01/02/2026
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01/02/2026
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KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: A source at the General Administration of Residency Affairs has outlined regulations governing the transfer and cancellation of residency permits in several cases, including the death or deportation of a sponsor, court rulings against expatriates, and situations where a sponsor’s residency lapses while outside the country.
The source stated that in the event of a sponsor’s death under Articles 17 or 18, dependents are required to report to their respective governorates, where the residency status of the wife and children is reviewed. If the wife is employed or secures employment, her residency may be transferred to her sponsorship. If the sponsor is deported and the wife is not working, the residency of the wife and children is cancelled inside the country, while students may be granted temporary departure notices until they complete their studies.
The source added that when a sponsor’s residency expires while he is abroad, transactions related to dependents are processed through the governorates according to specific regulations. If the mother is employed, the case is reviewed, and the children’s residencies may be transferred to her sponsorship, provided they are studying. The same provisions apply in cases where the husband is imprisoned.
Regarding the children of Kuwaiti women, the source said dependents are granted a grace period to seek employment or transfer their residency under Article 24 (self-sponsorship), provided the mother holds Kuwaiti nationality by origin. Widows and divorcees of deceased Kuwaiti citizens who do not have children may also transfer their residency after a case review, including widows receiving social insurance salaries.
In cases where an expatriate husband is detained at the central prison, and the wife is unemployed, her residency will not be renewed. However, if she is employed, the case is reviewed, with the possibility of transferring the children to her sponsorship. As for sponsors suffering from mental disabilities, residency departments will assess each case individually by governorate, with the option to transfer children’s residency to the mother where applicable.
